The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they will retire Russell Westbrook's No. 0 jersey on February 7, 2027, during a home game against the New York Knicks at Paycom Center. The ceremony will honor the franchise's most iconic player, who spent 11 seasons in Oklahoma City after being drafted fourth overall in 2008.
Westbrook retired this offseason following an 18-year NBA career that included nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA honors, and the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player award. All but one of those All-Star and All-NBA seasons came with the Thunder, where he averaged 23.0 points, 8.4 assists, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across 821 regular-season appearances.
"Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy. Russell Westbrook's legacy was built both on the court and in the community," general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "His mindset was relentless, his commitment deep. For all those reasons, Oklahomans consider him one of their own and his number will be raised to the rafters, in Oklahoma City forever."
After a trade to the Houston Rockets before the 2019-20 season, Westbrook played for five teams in six years — Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, and Sacramento — never staying two full seasons with any club. Recent injuries to Thunder guards Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace sparked brief speculation about a possible return, but Presti dismissed the idea last week, saying he had not considered any roster moves. The jersey retirement announcement now closes that chapter definitively.
Westbrook became the face of the franchise after Kevin Durant's departure in 2016, embodying loyalty in a market that felt betrayed. Though a championship eluded him in Oklahoma City, he remains the most beloved figure in Thunder history for establishing NBA basketball in the city and his extensive community work. On February 7, he will receive a long-awaited homecoming as his No. 0 ascends to the rafters.
